It’s possible that no one could quite understand the amount of pain Patrice Bergeron was truly in as he played in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup finals Monday night at the Garden against the Chicago Blackhawks. Though the timetable of the events is uncertain, one thing is clear: Bergeron’s 17:45 of ice time wasn’t without pain or heart.

“Among other things, he had rib cartilage that was damaged. He had a separated shoulder. In the course of getting a nerve-block (injection), he had a small hole in his lung,” Chiarelli said. “I’m not sure when that happened. So he played through all of this.

“He was a warrior.”

Following the Bruins’ devastating 3-2 loss that left the Blackhawks to celebrate with the Cup on the B’s home ice, Bergeron was admitted to a local hospital for observation. As of yesterday, he remained there.

The exact moment Bergeron suffered his rib injury is uncertain, but it’s thought to have happened in Game 4 when he took a hit from Micheal Frolik. Following the game, Bergeron said he “lost (his) wind a bit.” In Game 5, he exited to the locker room in the second period and went to a Chicago-area hospital for observation. At that point, he was only suffering from torn cartilage and a broken rib.

Bergeron suffered a separated shoulder in the first period of Game 6, but in order to even play, he had been given a nerve-blocking injection to freeze the rib. Chiarelli said it’s uncertain whether the needle used for the injection or the broken rib punctured Bergeron’s lung, or when it occurred.

Teammate Shawn Thornton has been in touch with Bergeron.

“He seems to be doing OK,” Thornton said. “He’s the man. He’s an inspiration. I think anyone that plays through the stuff that he played through is remarkable. I don’t know how many guys would be able to do it. I don’t know if I’d be able to do it.

“The amount of pain he was in and what he weathered and played a hell of a game with all that, it’s pretty inspirational.”